Tommy Thumb's Song Book facts for kids
Tommy Thumb's Song Book is a very old collection of nursery rhymes from Britain. It was first printed way back in 1744. This book is super important because it's the earliest known collection of its kind!
Sadly, no original copies of the 1744 book still exist today. But don't worry, we know what was inside it because its content was reprinted in later books. Many of the rhymes in Tommy Thumb's Song Book are still famous and sung by kids today!
Publishing the Song Book
This special book was first announced in a newspaper called the London Evening Post in March 1744. Its full title was quite long: Tommy Thumb's Song Book for all little Masters and Misses; to be sung to them by their Nurses 'till they can sing themselves. By Nurse Lovechild. To which is added, a Letter from a Lady on Nursing.
A woman named Mary Cooper in London published the book. Even though the original 1744 book is gone, a very similar book was printed in 1788 in America by Isaiah Thomas. He usually reprinted English books exactly as he found them. This later reprint helps us know what was in the original.
Just a few weeks after the first book came out, Mary Cooper also published a second part. It was called Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book Voll. II. We still have copies of this second volume today!
What's Inside the Book?
The 1788 edition of Tommy Thumb's Song Book starts with a letter. This letter is written to "Nurse Lovechild," who supposedly put the collection together. The letter thanks her for taking care of children and for creating songs that are "fit for the capacities of infants." It mentions how these songs can help calm children when they are upset or in pain.
The letter also gives some advice to nurses. It tells them not to scare children by singing too loudly or by talking about scary "Bogies." It also warns them not to hurt children by swinging them by their arms.
Pictures and Sounds
After the letter, the book has a section with pictures of different animals. It also includes the sounds these animals make. The book tells the reader to show the pictures to the child and make the animal sounds. The idea was that children would soon be able to make the sounds themselves.
Famous Nursery Rhymes
The final part of the book is a collection of nursery rhymes. Many of these rhymes are still well-known today. Here are some of the rhymes that were included:
- The Features
- Baby on the Tree Top
- Patty Cake
- Penny a day
- London Bells
- London Bridge
- Tom Thumb and Nurse
- Robin and Bobbin
